Chapter 53: I want to show off my skills when it’s time to do it
After meeting Senior Brother Chang, I've only regretted how quickly time flies by. We often talk all night long. I've gained a clearer understanding of the so-called world of numerology and feng shui.
This is a world of rivers and lakes, a vast one. In this world there are risks, but also great wealth.
This is also a pyramid society. Those with high skills roam among the rich and powerful, enjoying both wealth and respect. Those with lesser skills set up fortune-telling stalls on the streets to support their families.
For example, Master Chen, who will give us his last class in two days, lives a life of luxury: he has become a foreign citizen, has four wives, and owns dozens of properties in first-tier cities in mainland China and in foreign countries such as New York and London.
I secretly made up my mind to become a prominent figure in the world.
In the blink of an eye, it was the last day. On that day, Mr. Chen, the most famous master of Yi studies in China, arrived as scheduled.
He had no courseware and didn't give lectures. He stood at the podium and spouted a few words that were universally applicable, and were also considered the most useless big talk in the world.
Then there's modeling.
Although he looked ugly, the students rushed to take photos with him one by one.
Master Chen had long ago developed a dignified demeanor that both loved the world and despised it, maintaining a half-smile on his lips - the most charming smile in the world - Mona Lisa's half-smile.
Those who were brave enough in the photo even put a hand on the master's shoulder.
I didn't go up for the photo. Neither did Chang Nanxi, because there was a group photo session at the end.
The staff member had a gloomy face and scolded us: "Why are you like pigs, making the master wait for you?"
Chang Nanxi was bold and cursed: "You are a pig."
Another staff member came out to smooth things over: "If you want to take a photo, please hurry up. It's hard for the master to stand."
For the sake of face, I walked over to the master. Master Chen glared at me, who was reluctant to come up, with dissatisfaction:
"Are you learning this as a joke?"
I replied calmly, "No. I'm serious."
A teacher nearby interjected: "Even if he studies the most diligently."
Master Chen changed his expression faster than a Sichuan Opera face-changing master: "I'm just joking with you."
I was very unhappy that he didn't give the lecture and that he had taken 200,000 yuan in lecture fees. I didn't want to be associated with someone so powerful, so I replied without giving him face:
"Every joke has a serious component."
He was seriously embarrassed.
I added, "The famous psychologist Freud said so."
Master Chen asked, "What's your name?"
I said, "The mountains are red."
Unexpectedly, he put his arm around my shoulders and said to the photographer, "Take a few more pictures, and make them better."
I can’t say whether I’m happy or not. I just smiled but didn’t laugh.
After the photo came out, I found out that I was as mysterious as Master Chen - we both had a Mona Lisa smile.
After the training, everyone left. Chang Nanxi and I were both taking the high-speed train the next day, so we went to downtown Hangzhou, and Chang Nanxi took me to a hotel.
I asked, "Are you familiar with this place?"
He smiled and said, "A fan has already booked a room for us."
We checked into the hotel and went to the eighth floor. He stayed in room 8807 and I stayed in room 8809.
Dinner was treated to by his fan Mr. Ding.
After dinner, Mr. Ding asked Chang Nanxi to calculate his son's horoscope. Chang Nanxi, after hearing Mr. Ding's birth date and horoscope, said with a smile, "Children's horoscopes are usually not calculated. If you really want to know about his future, I'll give you ten words: A talent with a thousand-mile reach, a responsibility with a hundred-mile reach."
I know Nanxi said that Mr. Ding's son was incredibly talented, but his ultimate career path would only allow him to become a department-level cadre. This is because counties in the past generally covered an area of only a hundred miles.
Mr. Ding asked Chang Nanxi to explain. Chang Nanxi shook his head and said, "There's no need to explain children's matters. Go back and think about it slowly."
After a pause, he said to Mr. Ding:
"Mr. Shanhong is a fortune teller. He's the most effective fortune teller. Ask him to tell you a fortune."
I waved my hands non-stop: "I dare not show my ugliness."
Mr. Ding said with a pious look on his face, clasping his hands together: "Master, please give me some advice."
It would be a bit unreasonable to refuse again. I pretended to be humble and said, "Just treat it as a joke. I said it jokingly, so please bear with me."
I wanted to show off my skills, not to Mr. Ding, but to Chang Nanxi.
Mr. Ding said, "Let's just listen to your question for now. Ask me about my promotion to senior professional title next month."
Chang Nanxi asked: "Why did you choose this word?"
Mr. Ding said nonchalantly, "I didn't take it seriously. I didn't ask the judges or the leadership. I just let it go. When Mr. Shanhong said 'let's just leave it alone', I couldn't help but choose it."
I chuckled, "No problem at all."
When he heard this, he asked seriously, "Really?"
I didn't answer and just looked at him with that mysterious Mona Lisa smile.
This is the true teaching my master taught me: When someone asks you something, you don’t have to answer it again after you’ve answered it once. This is called maintaining your authority.
We are not street vendors who need to lobby people repeatedly.
The laughter worked. He felt uncomfortable all over, scratching here and there, as if he had done something wrong - in front of such a master, he asked the question for the second time in a childish way.
He picked up the teacup and took the opportunity to hide his uneasiness.
Chang Nanxi said to me, "Junior brother, how did you calculate the meaning of the word '且'?"
When it comes to fortune-telling, it can be said that everyone has their own method. Since Nanxi asked, I have no choice but to tell her the truth.
"Chinese characters are very interesting. The character qie (且) means 'progressive'. Furthermore, all characters composed of the radical qie (且) have the meaning of 'progressive'."
Mr. Ding put down his teacup and thought about it, but he was still confused.
I explained, "Characters with the character qie (qie) as their radical, for example, zu (zu), jie (jie), zhu (zui), zui (zui), xian (xian), zu (zui), zhu (zhui)... Let's look at the 'progressive' relationships they contain."
Then, I wrote down this string of words and analyzed it:
Zu, ancestor. Based on the father, grandfather, great grandfather... can be called "ancestor".
Sister, elder sister. Only when you have younger brothers or sisters can you be called elder sister.
Curse, curse. It is called a curse only when it is more vicious than a curse.
Chewing, chewing, on the basis of eating, chewing continuously, can be called "chewing".
A county can only be called a "county" if it is continuously superimposed on villages and towns.
To block, to hinder, on the basis of blocking, to increase the intensity, is called "blocking".
To help means to increase the efforts on the basis of helping.
After hearing my example, not only was Mr. Ding already impressed, but even Nanxi was surprised, his brows relaxed, and he gave a thumbs up:
"Junior brother, your knowledge is indeed quite good, and you have a thorough understanding of the art of fortune-telling."
Mr. Ding clasped his hands together and said, "Master, you not only predicted my fortune, but you also gave me a true understanding of the beauty of Chinese characters. I will definitely reward you handsomely when the task is completed."
I smiled calmly, "A gentleman's friendship doesn't involve financial matters. A generous reward is unnecessary."
Chang Nanxi said, "Sending money or gifts is tacky. Afterwards, you can send Shanhong a commemorative card with the words 'Shen Ce' written on it. It will mean much more."
Nanxi really saw through my thoughts. I laughed and said, "I like commemorative cards. I look at them from time to time and remember that I have a friend in Hangzhou."
"Okay, I must send a creative card."
While we were chatting, Dongzi called:
"When will you be back?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"I have something urgent to tell you." Dongzi's voice was hoarse and you could almost hear her crying.
"you say."
Dongzi said, "I can't explain it clearly right now. Let's talk about it when you come back. What time tomorrow? I'll pick you up at the station."
"Eleven o'clock."
I didn't sleep well that night. What happened to Dongzi?
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